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A Brief Summary of the Baiseshik philosophy of Rishi Kanad

Prof. Ananda M Ghosh

Kolkata, India.

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A. M. Ghosh

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First Founder of a Holistic Approach

Kanad of India first proposed a Scientific Model to study Matter & Mind holistically

Human Mind discovers Truth of the Universe -- so Mind & Matters must have a Relationship or Meta-Link that can influence Truth finding processes

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A. M. Ghosh

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Rishi Kanad

Lived Around 600 (?) BCE He first predicted the existence

of Atoms & Molecules He included Mind & Soul as 2

prime elements in a set of Nine Fundamental elements that are used to build our Universe

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A. M. Ghosh

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His Queries & Assumptions

Can Human Mind evolve from worldly inorganic materials only ? -- There must exist in Nature some Eternal Creative Consciousness

That Consciousness remains embedded as a Soul in every Human body

Human body comes out of Physical elements that follow the Laws of Space & Time

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A. M. Ghosh

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Kanad’s Findings Confirmed the existence of Five Physical

(composite) Elements that are used to build any Living or Non-living Objects

Soul [jib-atman] is the main Controller & Final Observer of all Mental activities

Objects can be moved in Space by applying some physical Force(s) for which some energy must be spent

Energy to be spent may be physical, spiritual or any combination of the Two

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A. M. Ghosh

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Tools Used & Terms Coined by Him

Rishi Kanad applied Rishi Gautam’s logical methods and argumentation techniques (of Nyaya philosophy) to arrive at any Conclusion

Kanad was first to predict the existence of matters in Atomic Form (named by him as Anu)

Every Atom has unique physical, chemical & interacting properties [ he used the term dharma]

Human sense organs cannot detect Atoms Combined Atoms i.e. Molecule (or Kana ) will be

bigger in size and may have different properties from its constituents

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Kanad identified only Nine Root Elements on this Earth 5 Physical elements -- soil, water, air, fire,

and void-space 2 Space-Time elements -- time (interval

between two events) & (ten different) directions in measurable Space

2 Mental elements -- Mind (data processor cum front-end interpreter) and Soul ( that acts as observer & controller of mind)

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Living Objects can utilize both Physical Energy and Mental Will

Physical Energy = Applied Kinetic Energy + stored Potential Energy in a System

A Living Object can combine both Physical energy (KE + PE) and Mental Will to produce anything new or creative

Mental activities depends on individual Mind’s Purity, intelligence and mutual coupling with one’s own Soul

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A. M. Ghosh

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Akasha supports both Matter & Soul Eternally [Conservation Property]

Human sense organs cannot detect Akasha but it exists for ever

Akasha can cause & support Vibrations [prana] that can be condensed into Matters

Some Macro-matters, under certain (unknown) conditions, may evolve as Soul of Living Objects

Sound (sabda) is kind of vibrating energy Akasha allows free flow of any kind of

radiation Energy

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A. M. Ghosh

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Mind, Nano-Matters and Tanmatra

Air carry nano- matter(s) [or tanmatra] to excite sense organs detecting Smell

Void-Space (even with filled air) can allow transfer of energy packets [or quanta] of Heat, Light or any other unseen electro-magnetic Radiation

Mind connected with Soul (in Yoga) can go even beyond that Space-Time where sense organs cannot help you to reach

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A. M. Ghosh

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Objectivity V Subjectivity All physical objects will meet death after some

Time ~ (So anitya) Existence of physical objects is always time -

dependent Anything Subjective is non-destructible (nitya) &

should be regarded as time - independent Far & Near -- a property of physical or mental

Connectivity All measurements are relative & depend on

individual observer’s limitations

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Measurement helps Removal of Doubts

Measurement can remove doubts : Gross Physical or large objects can be measured with less errors [not true for very small objects]

Mental entities cannot be measured directly : so doubt arises

Science removes doubt by measurements only Subjective knowledge or Absolute Truth --> only

Mental Realization is possible and can be described by signs and symbols or by showing analogy with something already known

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Role of a Human Soul

Sense organs are data collectors, Mind (Brain) is the data processor, Soul is the final acceptor or rejector [raising

questions and experiencing pain & pleasure] ~ the ‘Real-I’ behind ‘apparent-I’

Every individual person has a (nitya) Soul The main property (or dharma) of that Lasting

Soul is -- [ Self-Less Universal Love]

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Soul - Knowledge Relationship

What sense organs cannot acquire --> meditating Mind (due to Soul connection) can realize that

Knowledge acquired through observations & meditation can remove doubts from one’s Mind

Mind’s communication skill with the Soul improves with higher repetition & dedication

Mind must establish a direct connection with the Soul to realize the Absolute Truth

Individual Soul can carry forward Mental wealth from one birth to another through Akasha

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Soul is the Meta-Controller of Mind Physical Objects can acquire & store knowledge

without understanding its meaning Only Soul can understand and enjoy the meaning of

Mind’s actions and brain’s inferences Micro-Soul of Individuals are many -- Baiseshik Macro-Soul of God or Bramha is the Union of ALL

Micro-Souls -- Vedanta Controlling signals coming from one’s Soul cannot

reach the frontal working Mind if impurity puts resistance on its path of communication

Ultimate Truth is realized when totally purified Micro-soul dissolves into the Macro-Soul -- Vedanta.

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Ego of an Imperfect Mind Mind’s imperfection appears externally as

EGO Ego diminishes as one moves towards

perfection or higher realization Meditation can help removing Ego Sustained Ego can cause down-fall of a

person Universal Love is the ‘dharma’ of the

Ego-free Selfless Mind

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Existence Duality

Objective Existence -- detectable and Measurable by Sense Organs & Measuring Instruments

Subjective Existence (manifested as Knowledge or Wisdom) -- Non-detectable by Sense Organs but Mind can feel its effects & influences

Subjective (or Spiritual) Knowledge can make a person Selfless & bring Happiness for ALL

Object dependent pleasures are short lived Subjective pleasure gives ever lasting bliss

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Soul is the Supreme Controller All thoughts and control actions are initiated

by the Soul Mental Intention sends signal to the Soul, which

in turn triggers appropriate actions Behind every action {say, hand-lifting}, there is a

cause {intention}, which is detected & triggered by the Soul to take action

Strong determination & will of a mind can detect and amplify the signals generating from the Soul

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Animals are also having Soul When a bird intends to fly, its soul gives

command to generate signals to over come the Gravity pull using two wings

Soul’s will is the cause and flying action is the effect in living creatures

Any repetitive actions can be remembered by an animal as an inheritable code

Individual Souls can thus go on improving allowing evolution to occur

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Air - Cloud Friction produces Electricity -- Kanad Predicted

Due to friction of cloud with air -- electrical flashes occur in the sky

Frictional Vibrations also produce Sound Earthquakes occur due temperature or

pressure variations in the earth’s inner regions

Any logically unpredictable incident can be taken as Adristha

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Kanad: about Matter & Energy

Every Matter occupies some measurable finite Space

Energy can spread all over the Universe Matter can be converted into Energy Energy is a non-destructible (Nitya) entity Soul can be regarded as a generator of all

kinds of Creative & Spiritual Energies

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Nine Root Elements are sufficient to produce anything New artifically

A New Product comes out of Material(s)+ Design Intelligence + production Skill

Starting Cause -- Mind/Soul feels the Necessity of producing something new

Basic Elements used in the production -- Physical elements as materials, design takes help of mind/Soul and finally the production skill of mind/body saves time & ensure beauty of the product

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Binding Sound & Symbol with Meaning & Understanding

Knowledge can be associated with Sounds & Symbols

Subjective concepts can be represented by Objective symbols or Icons

Subjective concepts are understandable but not directly measurable

Individual Soul can carry forward Acquired Knowledge like a (virtual) Seed

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Mind & Soul [Jibatma]

Mind associates ‘I-ness’ with body & Sense Organs, which is not True

Embedded Soul remains undetected by the perturbed mind

Mind must cool down to a static state to feel the presence of its Soul -- the ‘Real - I’

Mind is attached with a volatile memory but Soul holds a “ Permanent Memory ’

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Meditation is needed to discover the Soul ~ working behind every Individual Mind

Nameste